A terrified company secretary handed over £1.2m after threats were made to “finish” the family business and hurt her children during a cruel fraud carried out by two Stockport sisters.
But the woman then began receiving calls claiming there was an outstanding balance to pay for what was “non-existent” advertising. Numerous calls per day contained demands for payment, said prosecutor Tim Evans as he described the Palmer sisters going “into overdrive”. Both Palmer sisters made calls, the court heard, and also persuaded the woman to hand over even more money having “changed tack” by promising to help recover cash if other funds were made available.
Jurors heard how the Palmer sisters also trained their sights on a second business, the Bridlington Shellfish Company on England’s east coast. Again money was demanded in respect of non-existent advertising with just short of £300,000 being handed over.